Judith Ann Moriarty

Recent Articles

Profile: The Whimsical Journey of Marina Lee
Profile

The Whimsical Journey of Marina Lee

Artist who created Snails Crossing loves working with neighborhoods and neighbors.

Profile: 40 Years as a Photographer
Profile

40 Years as a Photographer

Frank Ford has shot everyone from Mayor Maier to Paul Cebar to Divine to Richard Avedon.

Profile: The Curator Who Makes Quilts
Profile

The Curator Who Makes Quilts

Haggerty Museum curator of education Lynne Shumow has devoted her career to the arts.

Profile: The Artist as Geographer
Profile

The Artist as Geographer

Sarah Gail Luther maps out the lost culture of the city's abandoned lots and creates a kind of art from it.

Profile: The Man Behind the RedLine
Profile

The Man Behind the RedLine

How Steve Vande Zande created the RedLine arts incubator and gallery.

Michiana, Kitschiana: Road Trip
Michiana, Kitschiana

Road Trip

A history of later 20th-century decor, in a cottage at the Indiana Dunes.

Michelle Grabner, deja vu all over again

Michelle Grabner, deja vu all over again

UWM Alum Grabner's major show at Inova launches the university's Year of the Arts.

Judith Romances the Stones of Marquette’s old chapel

Judith Romances the Stones of Marquette’s old chapel

Hundreds of years before Columbus sailed, this chapel stood in Lyon. Since 1966, it's stood in Milwaukee.

Bugs Funny

Bugs Funny

Michael Nolte transforms manicure scissors into metal flies, and then there's the "Chainapede"...

Yard Guards redux: Richard Taylor, Beasties, West Allis Iron
Yard Guards redux

Richard Taylor, Beasties, West Allis Iron

Judith Ann again ponders lawn ornaments, high-brow and not-so-high-brow.

On “Lord of the Flies” and John Irving’s latest

On “Lord of the Flies” and John Irving’s latest

Judith Ann encounters William Golding's classic, somehow missed in high school, and connects it to Irving's "In One Person."

A comfy, heavy-metal sofa/sculpture

A comfy, heavy-metal sofa/sculpture

Judith Ann loves sitting on and looking at her L. John Andrew sofa, made from metal washers.

Vanguard: The Hot Metal Industry of Art
Vanguard

The Hot Metal Industry of Art

At Vanguard Sculpture Services, they pour the bronze and industry meets art.

Lawn Ornaments: Going fowl, foul… wait, it’s fair!
Lawn Ornaments

Going fowl, foul… wait, it’s fair!

Judith Ann ponders kitsch and art and solves the Mystery of the Rocky Nest beneath Kilbourn Ave's flying metal flock.

Time Arts Continuum at Walker’s Point

Time Arts Continuum at Walker’s Point

Why yes, we do inhabit a crazy modern world.

Face Jugs: Art from 19th-century South Carolina
Face Jugs

Art from 19th-century South Carolina

The expressions of slaves of West African origin on view at the Milwaukee Art Museum.

“Hammer of the Gods,” on the origins of Nazism

“Hammer of the Gods,” on the origins of Nazism

Dave Luhrssen's new book tells the bizarre tale of the Thule Society of Munich, a precursor of the Nazi party.

The Making of a Face Jug at MAM

The Making of a Face Jug at MAM

Michel Bayne, North Carolina potter, probably wouldn't mind if you called him a jughead.

Joyce Carol Oates’ new novel, “Mudwoman”

Joyce Carol Oates’ new novel, “Mudwoman”

Oates here imagines a successful modern woman secretly haunted by her trials, her fantasies, her dreams, her startling origin.

Judith Ann’s artful shopping

Judith Ann’s artful shopping

The Milwaukee Art Museum's shop is an important outlet for Wisconsin virtuoso crafters.

TCD Artist of the Month: Richard Knight
TCD Artist of the Month

Richard Knight

Judith Ann Moriarty visits Richard Knight's studio.

Here, There, Everywhere: Gallery Night & Day
Here, There, Everywhere

Gallery Night & Day

To get ready for Spring Gallery Night & Day, Judith Ann Moriarty chats with artist M.J. Vieux, showing at FeatherStone Gallery.

We’re in this Together: “Spiraling Jete (Up)” at Green Gallery East
We’re in this Together

“Spiraling Jete (Up)” at Green Gallery East

Judith Ann strolls with her old friend Nicholas Frank, through his new show.

Lives Lived: Convent painter Sister Elisabeth Fitchner
Lives Lived

Convent painter Sister Elisabeth Fitchner

Judith Ann takes a look at works by convent painter Sister Elisabeth Fitchner, currently on display at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers.

The tie that binds: Fred Bell and Livija Patikne
The tie that binds

Fred Bell and Livija Patikne

After three decades of reviewing the Milwaukee art scene, Judith Ann still manages to fall hard for the images at the Portrait Society Gallery.

Judith Ann, not stoned on Blarney, ponders some Irish art

Judith Ann, not stoned on Blarney, ponders some Irish art

St. Patrick's Day Special: Among the Accidental Geniuses at the Milwaukee Art Museum is James Dixon, an Irishman.

Inside outsiders: Inside my house
Inside outsiders

Inside my house

Judith Ann Moriarty shares her personal collection of "Outsider Art," each piece with it's own story.

Inside Outsiders: Local outsider artist Jimmy von Milwaukee
Inside Outsiders

Local outsider artist Jimmy von Milwaukee

Now that Anthony Petullo's collection has been donated to MAM for "Accidental Genius," Judith takes a look at local "Outsider Art" with Jimmy von Milwaukee.

Milwaukee Scene: Amazing grace at MAM
Milwaukee Scene

Amazing grace at MAM

The Milwaukee Art Museum's "Accidental Genius" prompts Judith Ann to ponder the Outside and the Inside of the art world.

Blingin’ it at Villa Terrace

Blingin’ it at Villa Terrace

"The Decorative Impulse" exhibition gives six metalsmiths a chance to shine.

A broom is a broom, unless it’s art

A broom is a broom, unless it’s art

Judith Ann ponders the definition of art, in the blurry regions between objects and concepts.

Michelle Grabner: Homespun sophistication
Michelle Grabner

Homespun sophistication

Grabner's Green Gallery East show is all about checks and weaves.

Grohmann Museum’s “Working Legacies”

Grohmann Museum’s “Working Legacies”

Images of industrial decay and rebirth by David Schalliol, with texts by Michael Carriere.

Getting Frisky on Gallery Night

Getting Frisky on Gallery Night

Madison photographer and muse/partner share the love in photos at an East Side erotic boutique.

A Letter to artist Silas B. Ritchie

A Letter to artist Silas B. Ritchie

Dear Mr. Ritchie... you are obviously an artist with something to say...

Small but big: ArtBook takes up space at last
Small but big

ArtBook takes up space at last

Opening January 6, Carrie Ann Seymour has big plans for the small office of ArtBook. “We’re going to cover every inch with arty goodness” she says.

Trolling the MPM gift shop: Bewitched, bothered & bejeweled
Trolling the MPM gift shop

Bewitched, bothered & bejeweled

Milwaukee Public Museum hosts Cleopatra: The Search For the Last Queen of Egypt through April. You'll want your camera in the gift shop.

Milwaukee Jewish Museum: Portraits by Arnold Newman
Milwaukee Jewish Museum

Portraits by Arnold Newman

Photos of prominent Jewish figures by famed Life magazine photographer are on view at MJM.

Milwaukee Scene: Baubles, bangles and art
Milwaukee Scene

Baubles, bangles and art

Judith Ann buys a Christmas ornament at MAM, ponders the avant-garde, and ties it all together via Impressionism.

“Santa Throws in the Towel”: A fairy tale for all times
“Santa Throws in the Towel”

A fairy tale for all times

A Christmas fairy tale from Judith Ann.

“Holiday Punch” goes straight to her head

“Holiday Punch” goes straight to her head

Judith Ann goes to Off the Wall's Dale Gutzman holiday show, gets punch-drunk.

Aluminum Christmas Tree: U.S. Patent #2,893,149
Aluminum Christmas Tree

U.S. Patent #2,893,149

Judith Ann's gleaming tree, enhanced by shiny gifts from Shimon and Lindemann.

Luckystar Studio: Goodbye, Hello
Luckystar Studio

Goodbye, Hello

Gene Evans and Bridget Griffith Evans will close the doors of Luckystar to the public, dimming a bright stars in the Marshall Building's galaxy.

Tom Uttech: Scoring in Arkansas
Tom Uttech

Scoring in Arkansas

The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, financed by Wal-Mart heiress Alice Walton, purchased one of Tom Uttech's paintings from the Tory Folliard Gallery.

Jingle Thrills: Kids go to the Theater
Jingle Thrills

Kids go to the Theater

At First Stage's "Jingle Bells, Batman Smells," there's a kid show in the lobby, too.

Milwaukee Scene: “Ha-Ha-Ha”
Milwaukee Scene

“Ha-Ha-Ha”

You know all about the Black Friday deals, but in the Marshall Building in the Third Ward, they're selling art by the inch.

Milwaukee scene: The Boy with the ??? Hair
Milwaukee scene

The Boy with the ??? Hair

Judith Ann encounters wacky hair color, assumes "art student," finds something else entirely under the lid.

The Big Hunt: Bayre Bronzes at the Allis
The Big Hunt

Bayre Bronzes at the Allis

Antoine-Louis Bayre, the "Michelangelo of the Menagerie," permanently snared in the collection of the Charles Allis Art Museum.

At Anaba: Works from the Studio of James Hempel
At Anaba

Works from the Studio of James Hempel

Black sheep, a satin bedspread with nude, and landscapes, landscapes, landscapes adorn Shorewood's tea room.

Firefly flap: Richard Taylor sculptures hope to alight on Tosa’s Hart Park
Firefly flap

Richard Taylor sculptures hope to alight on Tosa’s Hart Park

The latest public art debate - over Richard Taylor's commissioned collection for Wauwatosa - has local Rotarians bent out of shape.

Jackpot Gallery: Sean Weber’s debut show
Jackpot Gallery

Sean Weber’s debut show

Weber, fresh out of MIAD, with a cheeky, cartoonish approach at Jackpot Gallery.

Wisconsin portraitists, vintage and current, at St. John’s

Wisconsin portraitists, vintage and current, at St. John’s

Museum of Wisconsin Art and the lakeside senior residence team up for their first show.

Off-the-Wall’s “Baby Jane”: Perfectly campy
Off-the-Wall’s “Baby Jane”

Perfectly campy

Dale Gutzman's take on the 1962 Bette and Joan movie, with Jeremy Welter and Mark Hagen as the grand dames, is a hit.

Fall scene: “Cleopatra’s Wedge”
Fall scene

“Cleopatra’s Wedge”

Judith Ann takes a closer look at "Cleopatra's Wedge" in Burns Commons Park on the lower East Side.

Crabby with Bathers: Judith Ann ponders Impressionism
Crabby with Bathers

Judith Ann ponders Impressionism

At the Milwaukee Art Museum, Ms Moriarty considers, among other things, girly art from Degas and Renoir.

Remains to be Seen: Cleopatra at the Milwaukee Public Museum
Remains to be Seen

Cleopatra at the Milwaukee Public Museum

Unearthed artifacts, ancient remains and an ever-present air of mystery comprise "Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt."

Sunday in the (sculpture) Park with Judith Ann

Sunday in the (sculpture) Park with Judith Ann

"Inside/Outside: Dressing the Monument," at the Lynden Sculpture Garden.

Buttons, Banjos and a T-bird: Harvest Festival at the Allis
Buttons, Banjos and a T-bird

Harvest Festival at the Allis

Judith Ann among the vendors on a perfect Saturday at the Charles Allis Decorative Art Museum.

One Piece at a Time: “Maroon” at MAM
One Piece at a Time

“Maroon” at MAM

Judith takes a look at Martin Puyear's "Maroon" and finds that a new perspective may not always be the right one.

Taryn Simon Photographs and Texts at MAM

Taryn Simon Photographs and Texts at MAM

In this Milwaukee Art Museum show, Simon says a lot worth hearing in pictures and in words.

Jan Serr’s “About Face” at UWM

Jan Serr’s “About Face” at UWM

Serr, a UWM alum best known for her landscapes, focuses on the human figure in a big show at Inova/Arts Center.

One Piece at a Time: Reality Television
One Piece at a Time

Reality Television

There are few words to aptly describe the tragedy of 9/11. On its tenth anniversary, Judith lets art speak for her instead.

Summer Scenes: Transformative
Summer Scenes

Transformative

Judith soaks in the last days of summer at the Villa Terrace, musing on the museum's latest installation and admiring a piece of guerilla art lurking outside on Prospect Avenue.

Summer Scenes: Christmas in September?
Summer Scenes

Christmas in September?

On a recent visit to the Grand Avenue Mall, Judith stumbles across a premature winter display and muses on the season to come.

Summer Scenes: Stick It
Summer Scenes

Stick It

Judith Ann follows the MAM's admission stickers from the lakefront through downtown, and muses on the strange journeys of these sticky little devils.

One Piece at a Time: Forever Young
One Piece at a Time

Forever Young

He’s young. He’s lithe. And he’s dying on the battlefield at Thermopylae. Judith spends an afternoon with The Last of the Spartans, found in the Frederick Layton gallery at MAM.

One Piece at a Time: A thousand little pieces
One Piece at a Time

A thousand little pieces

Judith spends the afternoon on MSOE's campus and finds a "Man at Work" and a Lego replica of Miller Park.

Summer Scenes: Do It Yourself
Summer Scenes

Do It Yourself

As TCD staff prepares for a move to the Grand Avenue, Judith Ann muses on the new space and Milwaukee's growing creative economy.

Right or Wong?

Right or Wong?

Judith Ann gains inspiration from the fashion of long-ago Chinese starlet Anna May Wong, leading to a brief meditation on art, controversy and the "Summer of China."

One Piece at a Time: Two for the Ride
One Piece at a Time

Two for the Ride

Judith explores two equine works -- separated by several continents and 16 centuries -- currently on view at the Milwaukee Art Museum.

One Piece at a Time: Ha-Ha Han
One Piece at a Time

Ha-Ha Han

Judith Ann muses on three oft-overlooked "Entertainers" in the Milwaukee Art Museum's "Summer of China" exhibition. What tales (or jokes) have they to tell?

Summer Scenes: Sunshine through branches at Chez Jaques
Summer Scenes

Sunshine through branches at Chez Jaques

Judith Ann muses on a tree, a garden, a mural, and a perfect summer moment at a modest Walker's Point restaurant.

Retro Read: A Prayer for Owen Meany
Retro Read

A Prayer for Owen Meany

Irving's is a highly political novel from a highly political time, with war and politics sharing a dance macabre and where people search for meaning in uncertain times.

Tree of Strife: Notes on a film
Tree of Strife

Notes on a film

It’s not the worst flick I’ve seen -- in fact, parts of it brought me to tears. But I got over that and lived to regret wasting two plus hours.

Kenn Kwint: A Cave Man to Love
Kenn Kwint

A Cave Man to Love

Painter Kenn Kwint's lyrical and densely layered works recall prehistoric cave drawings, reflecting on life, death and the passage of time.

MARN Mentors exhibit at Gallerie M

MARN Mentors exhibit at Gallerie M

Collaboration is key as experienced artists teach and work alongside proteges for a year, culminating in a solid group exhibit

“Strange Vegetation” blooms at Villa Terrace

“Strange Vegetation” blooms at Villa Terrace

Inspired by the lush, fantastical wallpaper in the Zuber Gallery, artist Yevgeniya Kaganovich transforms the room into a jungle of living, breathing plant forms.

Bury Me on the Lone Prairie

Bury Me on the Lone Prairie

Judith visits her beloved hometown and takes in Monet, contemporary photography and a world-class collection of Asian art.

RAM takes to the open road

RAM takes to the open road

With soaring gas prices in tough economic times, Racine Art Museum's funky mobile art project "RAM on the Road" offers hope for area students and seniors.

The Prince and the Bald Spot (or how he got his hairball)

The Prince and the Bald Spot (or how he got his hairball)

With the Royal Wedding is a week away, folks are in a tizzy over the Prince's hair. Judith pens an ode to the receding follicles of HRH William of Wales.

A postmodern Gallery Night at Safi Studios

A postmodern Gallery Night at Safi Studios

The gallery debuts Scott Johnson's "Walkthrough," an audio/visual study of a neighborhood in progress. Plus, new work by Safi residents and sculptor Denise Schanz.

Peeps, brew, and YOU

Peeps, brew, and YOU

For the sixth year, "Peeple Unite" takes Bay View by storm with art inspired by and devoted to those denizens of Easter schmaltz, Marshmallow Peeps.

Pass the Sugar: A story for April Fool’s Day
Pass the Sugar

A story for April Fool’s Day

For me, the tradition of began one day when I sat down to breakfast and dipped into the dish marked “SUGAR,” fatefully pouring a heap of it on my steaming oatmeal.

Magic Man: James Matson at WLC
Magic Man

James Matson at WLC

In "Sabbatical," Jim Matson's bewitching sculptures are beautifully constructed and conceived, transporting the viewers into a world beyond.

A Grand event – “Mystique: Views of the Feminine”
A Grand event – “Mystique

Views of the Feminine”

Generally, I ignore exhibitions focused on gender concerns. In this case, I'm glad I chose otherwise.

Queen Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth

No, not that one. The Elizabeth who, until the end of her life at age 79, defined old-style Hollywood Glam with a capital G.

Moon over M’waukee: “Friends” at Portrait Society Gallery
Moon over M’waukee

“Friends” at Portrait Society Gallery

In a time when “friends” are more often cyber buddies or faces floating in virtual space, three artists pay tribute to their own pals in PSG's latest show.

5Q: A Chat with Costello
5Q

A Chat with Costello

Make that Dagmara Costello, a Polish-born painter and member of the Marshall Building's The Fine Art Gallery, whose landscapes are nothing short of ethereal.

Pfister names Narrator finalists

Pfister names Narrator finalists

Six finalists have been chosen for The Pfister's next Narrator position. Panelist Judith Ann Moriarty offers a behind the scenes look at the selection process.

The Saga of Bridget & John: An Irish tale
The Saga of Bridget & John

An Irish tale

Each year when everyone but the Irish celebrate St. Pat’s Day, my thoughts turn to the whereabouts of me great grandmudder, a rippin' wench if there ever was one.

Wordheads: Three poets on a spring evening at Boswell
Wordheads

Three poets on a spring evening at Boswell

Derrick Harriell, Ed Makowski and Nick Demske read at the Downer Ave. book shop-- and the people-watching was priceless.

Dianne Soffa @ Safi Studios

Dianne Soffa @ Safi Studios

Is it a close up of a super-charged orange car, or the rippled skin of an orange viewed through a microscope? Big or small, Dianne Soffa has it all.

Milwaukee Artist Pocket Collection: Redefining Hip
Milwaukee Artist Pocket Collection

Redefining Hip

"Art Muscle" veteran Judith Ann Moriarty chats with the founder of Milwaukee's next arts-focused mag about the highs and lows of publishing in the digital age.

“People, Places and Things” at Luckystar Studio

“People, Places and Things” at Luckystar Studio

In Luckystar's debut photography exhibition, three Milwaukee photographers strike a balance twixt the outrageous and the sublime.

One Piece at a Time: The Best Little Holes in Wisconsin
One Piece at a Time

The Best Little Holes in Wisconsin

Opulent, overwhelming, marvelous: even the restrooms at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center are a sight to behold.

Mind Shattering: “Agristocracy” at RAM
Mind Shattering

“Agristocracy” at RAM

Consumption and consumer waste: Matt Eskuche's window installations at RAM invaded my head, then shattered like glass and cut through to what matters.

‘Wright’ or Wrong? “The Women” by T.C. Boyle

‘Wright’ or Wrong? “The Women” by T.C. Boyle

Morphine, sex and fires galore: The plot thickens as T.C. Boyle blends fact and fiction in this page-turner about the life and loves of Frank Lloyd Wright.

Charles Allis at 100

Charles Allis at 100

The Charles Allis Museum celebrates 100 years with "Allis in Wonderland," a nine-month long exhibition extravaganza, beginning this Friday.

The Little Eye: TINY art at MIAD
The Little Eye

TINY art at MIAD

Behold the results of visual art melded with science.If beauty is in the eye of the beholder,this is a feast for orbs everywhere.

Gallery Night Preview: Close Encounters at Safi Studio
Gallery Night Preview

Close Encounters at Safi Studio

There it sits, shining in the light, a mound shaped like a mountain…

Bones of Truth

Bones of Truth

The Portrait Society prepares to open its annual winter exhibit with Linda Wervey Vitamvas' "Chapel of Bones"

One Piece at a Time: Cy Twombly’s not-so-simple marks
One Piece at a Time

Cy Twombly’s not-so-simple marks

Some viewers will snip that the marks in Twombly's "Untitled" pieces, like the one in MAM's Contemporary Galleries, are clumsy. They’d be wrong.

Once upon a time: A tale of Christmas Trees past
Once upon a time

A tale of Christmas Trees past

Trees come and go, but two stick in my mind: the Iowa tree of my childhood and an aluminum one conceived in Manitowoc.

5Q: Paint with Purpose: Morgan Oldenburg of SPILL
5Q

Paint with Purpose: Morgan Oldenburg of SPILL

Color is her cue; abstraction her muse. From the spacious confines of her Marshall building gallery, Oldenburg is setting off on an art adventure.

One Piece at a Time: The Lynden Garden’s embellished acres
One Piece at a Time

The Lynden Garden’s embellished acres

Judith Ann Moriarty spends a brisk fall afternoon walking the embellished landscape of the Lynden Sculpture Garden.

5Q: Pfister Narrator Julie Ferris
5Q

Pfister Narrator Julie Ferris

The Pfister's first Narrator earned a Ph.D from the University of Iowa. In her spare time, she's working on a novel. Keep your eye on this one.

5Q: A Walk on the Wild Side
5Q

A Walk on the Wild Side

"Excavating, tearing down and rebuilding" - painter Jane Gates talks about reinvention, finding inspiration in nature and why it's okay to break a few rules.

One Piece at a Time: “In the Catskills” with George Inness
One Piece at a Time

“In the Catskills” with George Inness

Picking up where Tom Strini's summer series left off, Judith Ann Moriarty spends an afternoon with the work of a self-taught painter at the Charles Allis Museum.

5Q: Thomas Schulteis
5Q

Thomas Schulteis

Who’s the dude sitting in a dental chair? My interest piqued, so I contacted the artist for a 5Q. He's a man of few words, but the work speaks for itself.

Live from Milwaukee

Live from Milwaukee

Step right up -- MIAD hosts the 2010 Performance Art Showcase, a carnival-esque event that will (literally) stick with you.

Indian Summer Festival: A harvest of beauty
Indian Summer Festival

A harvest of beauty

The annual celebration of American Indian cultures kicks off today. Judith recommends the Circle of Art -specifically the baskets of Oneida artist Kathy Thomas.

Onychophagia: Confessions of a nail biter
Onychophagia

Confessions of a nail biter

Nail biters are like squirrels. You can hardly ever beat them down.

5Q: Beauty, sorrow and American detritus
5Q

Beauty, sorrow and American detritus

Kevin J. Miyazaki discusses internment camps, his charity-based photography website and the ragged beauty of abandoned fast food establishments.

5Q: Architect Scott Jackson
5Q

Architect Scott Jackson

The owner/director of Cedar Gallery discusses his ideal living quarters, favorite buildings and why condos freak him out.

Good Read: The Sound of the Horn
Good Read

The Sound of the Horn

The main character is a horn, or rather, the sound emitted from a horn, but the source of it is where? A lovely, quiet tale by Nicholas Frank

5Q: From then to now
5Q

From then to now

Former Milwaukee-based artist Carri Skoczek chats about living part-time in New Orleans and oil spill inspired art.

Good Read: The Short Life And Happy Times of The Shmoo
Good Read

The Short Life And Happy Times of The Shmoo

In the '40s, Cartoonist Al Capp created a widespread cultural impact with lovable anti-consumerist and anti-war creatures : the Shmoos.

5Q: The Marshall Building’s Robert DeToro
5Q

The Marshall Building’s Robert DeToro

The venerable building's co-owner is making a few changes to the Third Ward landmark and destination for the arts

5Q: Elevating Tenants
5Q

Elevating Tenants

The Marshall Building's elevator grumbles about the daily grind and hints at possible upcoming renovations.

Paul Druecke: A Compelling List
Paul Druecke

A Compelling List

Any fool can make a list of alphabetized names. What’s so clever about a list? Quite a bit, actually.

5Q: Grazing on Downer
5Q

Grazing on Downer

What's the deal with all these sheep on Downer Avenue? And how can they graze without grass? So many questions. Judith goes in search of answers, but these sheep aren't talking much.

We all scream for it

We all scream for it

Fifteen months have passed since I quit puffing on cigs. In order to not fall back into the tar pit, ice cream has become my sin of choice.

5Q: A fascination with nature
5Q

A fascination with nature

In 2008, in the deserts of New Mexico, Riverwest-based painter David Niec set out on an ambitious project: to capture an entire moon cycle on canvas.

Retro Read: Gilead
Retro Read

Gilead

Marilynne Robinson's Pulitzer Prize-winning Midwestern novel examines the past and present of a small Iowa town.

5Q: Shelby Keefe
5Q

Shelby Keefe

The Milwaukee-based painter's work graces the poster for this year's Lakefront Festival of Arts, happening at the MAM this weekend.

Restoration drama

Restoration drama

Painter, muralist and expert restorer Andy DeWeerdt needs to clear his studio full of artifacts before moving to Oregon. The Portrait Society Gallery is happy to help.

5Q: Studio in Rajasthan
5Q

Studio in Rajasthan

A chat with poet, photographer and expatriate Waswo X. Waswo.

Wisconsin Artists Capture Nature

Wisconsin Artists Capture Nature

“Breathtaking natural wonders and moments of majesty,” trumpeted the press release. I’ll make up my own mind, thank you.

5Q: Herman the talking lobster
5Q

Herman the talking lobster

An exclusive one-on-one interview with the Koppa family's favorite crustacean.

Retro Read: The Good War
Retro Read

The Good War

This book isn’t just for old gray hairs like me. It’s a lesson for all times. Trust me.

5Q: James Boone Dryden of WriteCamp Milwaukee
5Q

James Boone Dryden of WriteCamp Milwaukee

Bay View’s Hide House will be the site of WriteCamp Milwaukee, a free gathering of wordsmiths intent on polishing their craft.

5Q: Five questions for J.Karl Bogartte
5Q

Five questions for J.Karl Bogartte

Visual artist and poet J. Karl Bogartte chats with Judith Ann about surrealism, identity and sharing space with two enormous Wolfhounds

Retro Read: The Road to Wellville
Retro Read

The Road to Wellville

If you’re a sophisticated reader or a serious writer, you have to take this daily dose.

5Q: An interview with a Moth Orchid
5Q

An interview with a Moth Orchid

Judith checks in with her favorite $1.98 plant. As it turns out, moth orchids are pretty sassy.

5Q: Five questions for Katina Jordan
5Q

Five questions for Katina Jordan

In this bonus 5Q, Judith speaks with Katina Jordan, founder of the Milwaukee Multicultural Theatre.

5Q for Bridget Griffith Evans: Of Bluebirds and new beginnings
5Q for Bridget Griffith Evans

Of Bluebirds and new beginnings

Judith Ann Moriarty talks to Evans about her solo work and her new space in the Marshall Building.

5Q: Five questions for Pastor Danny Parmelee
5Q

Five questions for Pastor Danny Parmelee

"Raw, messy, beautiful and exciting" -- Epikos isn't your typical church.

5Q: Five questions for Debra Fabian
5Q

Five questions for Debra Fabian

In my living room is a 70s made-in-Sheboygan chair I found in a dumpster. On the underside was a big wad of gum. Fabian brought the chair back to life.

5Q: Five questions for painter David Mahaffey
5Q

Five questions for painter David Mahaffey

Judith Ann Moriarty resurrects an old VITAL staple with brand-spankin' new bi-weekly installments of 5Q.

Bridget, where are ye?

Bridget, where are ye?

A tale of an Irish wench who refuses to be found.

A Prophet & A Ford

A Prophet & A Ford

Steny's hosts a benefit this weekend for Milwaukee photographer Francis Ford as he heals from a recent heart surgery.

Designer meatballz and more!

Designer meatballz and more!

IKEA might be a gargantuan draw in Illinois for those looking for furnishings (and perhaps even lunch) on a budget, but those savings come at a cost.

5Q: Five Questions for Fred Bell
5Q

Five Questions for Fred Bell

At his wildest, Fred Bell's delectable strokes resemble those of Vincent Van Gogh during his days and nights of madness.

Hey good looking, whatcha got cooking?

Hey good looking, whatcha got cooking?

Worst dates are plagued by corny pickup lines, obnoxious chatter and dinners gone bad.

The Horrible Truth: Thomas Woodruff’s Freak Parade
The Horrible Truth

Thomas Woodruff’s Freak Parade

Wacky and wanton, this exhibition of grotesque-ness is a must-see for those who aren't faint of heart.

Life after MIAD?

Life after MIAD?

Life after MIAD may not be awash in riches, but from a professional standpoint, it’s certainly been successful for this threesome.

Open your eyes to the world of lobby art

Open your eyes to the world of lobby art

Prefer a royal lobby? A Chihuly chandelier? Entryways of local condos flash artistic clout.

5Q: Five Questions for Valerie Christell of Merge Gallery
5Q

Five Questions for Valerie Christell of Merge Gallery

It’s not just another pretty place for pretty art. Think social consciousness instead.

Art accessible: Sale at Dean Jensen Gallery
Art accessible

Sale at Dean Jensen Gallery

Art sale brings more than 100 acclaimed works by 30 artists closer into view.

Book Review: Larry Baker’s A Good Man
Book Review

Larry Baker’s A Good Man

Author's tale conjures up classic character types and more than a few riveting surprises.

Cheap scores at Retique

Cheap scores at Retique

Third Ward thrift boasts a number of (surprising) high-end finds.

5Q: Five Questions for Mark Flower
5Q

Five Questions for Mark Flower

A passion for veterans opens doors of opportunities for local organization.

Down, but not out: Tony Matelli at The Green Gallery East
Down, but not out

Tony Matelli at The Green Gallery East

Gambling, boozing, smoking and wolfing junk food, plus some interesting weeds. Is this stuff P.C.?

The Bloody, Awful Truth: War, Art & the Veteran at MAM
The Bloody, Awful Truth

War, Art & the Veteran at MAM

Young, talented and long gone. The men in these images will never grow old.

Mind Over Matter: Dali, Masson at David Barnett Gallery
Mind Over Matter

Dali, Masson at David Barnett Gallery

Surrealism exhibits master the spartan, the subconscious and the subtly erotic.

Slime on, slime on harvest moon

Slime on, slime on harvest moon

How would I rate Meadowbrook Pumpkin Farm on a 1-to-10 Scream Scale? I’d be hard-pressed to grade it as anything other than a solid ten tons of fun.

Ford shoots friends

Ford shoots friends

The many faces of friendship. Photographer Francis Ford captures the essence.

The Way It Wasn’t: Midwest Murals at Grohmann Museum
The Way It Wasn’t

Midwest Murals at Grohmann Museum

These murals are gussied-up imaginings of an America that never was.

MFF Preview: Rashomon
MFF Preview

Rashomon

Justice and human nature intertwine in this classic tale of a twisted crime plot retold by four people.

Book Reviews: A Noir, B Noir
Book Reviews

A Noir, B Noir

Two tomes explore the film genre noir, a place where fear reigns and shadows slither.

Democracy in action?

Democracy in action?

Even on this day that once evoked pain (and still evokes controversy), there is beauty.

Cool It

Cool It

Cool is cooler than ever with the awesome photography duo J. Shimon & J. Lindemann

Sixteen Blocks & What Have You Got?

Sixteen Blocks & What Have You Got?

Notes and observations on the In:Site Park East Corridor Project

Reviewed: Fumes at Green Gallery East
Reviewed

Fumes at Green Gallery East

Jittery, nerved-up new paintings by local artist Peter Barrickman at the mod pizza parlor-cum-East Side art gallery.

One more reason to respect Iowa

One more reason to respect Iowa

“I’m almost ready to up and leave Iowa and move back to Minnesota,” one woman said angrily. “There’s something about it happening in the heartland that has got to accelerate this process for the whole country,” said another. On April 4, the Iowa Supreme Court overturned the ban on same-sex marriages, giving lie to the myth that Iowa folks are strictly conservative. Some would say they are, indeed, Progressives. Whatever your take on the same-sex marriage issue, the court’s web site had 1.5 million viewers on the day of the decision. The court’s seven members made it a unanimous decision. I have a beautiful niece, one of several. Not only is she highly intelligent, she is a hard-working and has for many years supported herself. She is loved by her father, her mother, her sister, and her devoted partner, Annie. My niece is a lesbian. In the building I occupy are several gay and lesbian couples. They come and go like other occupants, off to shop or walk their pets. One of the gay partners is a well-respected judge in our county court system, and I volunteered for his re-election campaign. If you placed these couples (or individuals) in a crowd, you’d never be able to identify their gender preference. For instance, is that fellow over there gay, the one dressed in a suit and tie? Yes, he is. He’s a parole officer. His partner works for Milwaukee’s Health Department. And the lady in the flowered suit and fashionable shoes? Oh, she’s one of our State Representatives. She’s a lesbian. The aforementioned judge and his partner throw a big Halloween costume party each fall. It’s a blast. That said, no one swings from the chandeliers brandishing sex toys. At the last one I attended, the guy I was standing next to was dressed as a Milwaukee police officer. A gay chap, he really is a Milwaukee police officer. Milwaukee has churches friendly to gay and lesbian couples. In the summer, the city celebrates Pride Fest and I can think of no place in town that would single out lesbian and gay couples as “unwelcome,” though Pride Fest is sometimes picketed by those who think their way is the only way. We have a center for “Gay Arts,” but it isn’t the art that’s gay, it’s the artists who produce it. I have a lady friend who, after an unsuccessful heterosexual marriage, partnered with a woman. When one of their mothers died last year, the two of them steered her wheelchair through small town Iowa, in a “Race to Beat Cancer,” event. Together, they grieved over their loss. A teacher gal pal married and raised a fine son who is currently serving in Iran. When her child rearing days were over, she left her marriage to live with a woman who leads a blues band. She told me she knew early on that she preferred the company of women, but societal pressures directed her toward a heterosexual marriage. Incidentally, the lady […]

Drink Like An Egyptian

Drink Like An Egyptian

Who knows if King Tut was given to tippling, but when his tomb was opened in 1922, three dozen plain pottery wine jars were discovered inside, twenty-six of which had hieroglyphs telling of the vineyard location, the estate where it was produced, and the vinter who produced it. Two pots were labeled “very good.” Tut died in 1352 BC, and perhaps the labels were the first, or almost the first, examples of things to come in the world of labels. A few of the wine jars in the tomb were empty. Or perhaps laced with poison, who knows? My personal favorite label, is pasted in my Cooking of Provincial France cookbook, circa 1968. The label from a Beaujolais Saint-Amour burgundy produced by “Jaboulet-Vercherre,” is square, designed in tones of burgundy, white and metallic gold. Stamped “JV,” it includes a coat-of-arms bannered “in tenebris lumen rectis,” which means, “true light in the darkness.” I drank large draughts of the Beaujolais while mastering the art of whipping up Coquille Saint-Jacques a la Provencale, which incidentally, is best served with a dry white wine. Dude, peel me a grape. Paper labels as we know them today, weren’t developed for general use until around 1860, when manufacturers understood how to make them stick to glass. Prior to that, well-heeled households used silver “bottle tickets” hung by narrow silver chains from wine decanters. In the 1740s, European wineries sold their products unlabeled. They were stored stacked in bins and the bins were then identified with glazed pottery tags. Labels were designed to inform. Consider this from a late 1800s bottle of sweet red Tokay from Hungary: This wine having been stored in wood for the full period necessary for maturity, and all unwholesome acids being thereby eliminated, is safely included in the dietary scale of the invalid; whilst its fine delicate bouquet will please the taste of the connoisseur. Makes you want to drink yourself stupid doesn’t it? In 2001, an image of Mona Lisa sporting a red mustache took first prize in a label-making content hyped by Wine Maker Magazine An obvious rip off of “Got Milk” campaign, I wonder if it bombed? Anyone who shops for wine, knows it’s the label that grabs the eye and it’s the label that clinches the sale. Face it, it’s where “art meets commerce.” The youth of today now drink more wine than beer, and yes, these are the youths who grew up with television, digital graphics, People Magazine, and clothing “branded” with labels. Come on now, who wouldn’t want a bottle of “Marilyn Merlot,” named after Marilyn Monroe who died way back in 1962. She’s there on the label in living color…head thrown back, rosy lips parted to reveal pearly teeth. Her famous eyes are partially closed. Clad in a ribbed white tank-top; a delicate necklace dripping seal shells and polished stone hangs around her famous neck. A wine expert claims Marilyn Merlot (2003 Napa Valley Winery) is “middling,” and it’s suggested that perhaps connoisseurs should […]

A Grouch Worth Considering

A Grouch Worth Considering

Artist Kenn Kwint goes bonkers when he sees his first name spelled incorrectly. I’ve know him for 20-plus years, enough to know that he whines a lot, but who cares? This chap is a “painter’s painter.”

Cinco Jugueteros de Venezuela @ Latino Arts Center

Cinco Jugueteros de Venezuela @ Latino Arts Center

I hate sounding like Scrooge, but my memory bank is filled with nights-before-Christmas spent assembling toys for my kids. If you’ve ever tried finding a minuscule screw in inch-high shag carpeting, you know what I mean. There were endless batteries to test, a parade of dolls (Chatty Kathy, Baby Wets, Raggedy Ann) and, atop our aluminum tree, a revolving purple-and-blue light on the fritz. And where were Barbie’s pink shoes and Ken’s shirt? Would my 5-year-old like the green cowboy boots I bought in Mexico? I learned later that not one kid in his preppy pre-school wore cowboy boots, let alone green ones. What was I thinking? The turkey thawing in the kitchen seemed to be the only thing not giving me tizzies. On these nightmares before Christmas, I slugged down extra eggnog. Cinco Jugueteros de Venezuela (Handcrafted Venezuelan Toys) was scheduled to open Friday, December 7 (5pm-7pm) at the Latino Arts Center, 1028 S. 9th St. When I arrived for the gala opening, it had been rescheduled. The new date is Friday, January 4, 2008. The show will run through January, so you’ll be able to greet the New Year with a selection of toys crafted entirely by hand, with no assembly required and no lead-paint problems. As I write this, the shipment of toys is sitting somewhere in Memphis, held up due to changes in Venezuelan shipping regulations. “The toys don’t talk, they don’t walk. They run entirely by imagination,” said Zulay Oszkay, a member of the Milwaukee Arts Board and Artistic Director of Latino Arts, Inc. She added that she and her staff had painted the 300 sq. ft. auditorium room entirely white so as to better “show off” the toys. They tracked the Fed-Ex shipment for several days, right up to the last minute, but alas! No toys in time for the December 7 opening. The toys were to be accompanied by the artisans who made them, but they were unable to get visas for the visit. While writing this, I found a website blasting Venezuela’s President, Hugo Chavez. It seems he thinks Barbie and Ken represent “disgusting stupidity”; his holiday choices are items made in Venezuela. For boys, he suggests wooden rocking horses and/or “Ilaneros” (cowboys), and for girls … rag dolls. However, I doubt if politico Chavez was actually thinking about simpler times. Call him a dictator or a Democrat; he does seem a bit sexist when it comes to toys. Venezuela is in the throes of political turmoil, which contributed to the delayed shipment of toys. As Zulay and I sipped coffee and chatted in the auditorium, kids came in to participate in “toy-making” workshops and the United Community Center Youth Cuatro Ensemble arrived to perform. Images of the exquisite toys flashed by on a nearby television screen. Despite the cancellation of the opening, the mood was upbeat and the room sparkled with decorated trees. This is a wonderful facility and worth a visit anytime. Later in the evening, a friend and I […]

Carrying A Knife In To The Gunfight

Carrying A Knife In To The Gunfight

His real name is Edmund Makowski, but around town he’s known as poet Eddie Kilowatt. It suits him to a tee: his persona is electric indeed, and it shines through in his slender new book of poetry, Carrying A Knife In To The Gunfight.

Time Machine

Time Machine

Three days after listening to Russell Bowman’s lecture at the Milwaukee Art Museum, I drove with a friend to re-visit the John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC) in Sheboygan. Bowman, the former Executive Director of MAM, spoke so eloquently and in-depth about when and how MAM’s “folk art” collection came to fruition; it seemed the perfect excuse to take another look at JMKAC’s collection of art, specifically Sublime Spaces & Visionary Worlds: Built Environments of Vernacular Art, which runs until January 2008. Let’s forget about labels for the time being. Whether you choose to refer to work produced by self-taught artists as “folk,” “outsider,” or “visionary,” bear in mind that the distinctions overlap more often than they divide. Blurred boundaries can be a good thing. Sunday, November 11 may not have been the best day to travel north, though my friend and I fortunately dodged the crowds rushing to Lambeau in massive vehicles bound for the Packer-Vikings game. The upside was finding JMKAC virtually empty, so we more or less had the glorious place to ourselves. There is no admission fee and on that day, parking was certainly not a problem. My travel companion, self-taught artist Jilan Glynn, lives in a tiny Walker’s Point home resembling an art installation. She uses a cane to get around these days, but not just any old cane. She made hers, and it was a perfect accessory for a perfect day. Walking through the galleries is somewhat akin to entering a voluminous tent where a circus is underway. Step right up, folks. Don’t be afraid. What you are about to see is not an illusion. With twenty-one artists represented, artists from here, there, and everywhere, you’d expect to feel claustrophobic, because many of the artists produced massive figurative works originally intended for “natural” environments such as yards and wide open spaces. Thanks to the excellence of JMKAC’s curatorial staff, though, each artist’s work clearly has its own space and never seems isolated. Nothing is crowded or crammed awkwardly. The interior architecture embraces the collection. Intricate, concrete constructions lead to stately clusters of figures fashioned from fabrics and clay before giving way to the light and airy wire fantasies of the wildly prolific Emery Blagdon. Standing there, I wondered what it might be like to live inside of a delicate web spun by the mind of an artist. My friend remarked that she wished there was a fan blowing nearby, so she could see the slender objects move. When we looked skyward to pieces suspended from the ceiling, indeed, some were moving, but ever so gently, in the whispering air currents. A fan would have been a travesty! In his lecture, Russell Bowman remarked that sometimes when the work of self-taught artists is removed from its natural environment to an institutionalized setting, it acquires another meaning. I agree with his statement, but such is not the case with this outstanding exhibit, which avoids being “precious.” At the risk of sentimentalizing the entire experience, it did […]

A Vision Defined

A Vision Defined

Nov. 3 – Dec. 1 Opening Reception: Nov. 3, 6-9pm A year ago, Whole Foods Market opened to much hoopla and artist Matthew Kirk’s work was selected to add some “local flavor” to the sprawling food emporium. The installation of his work, arranged by Hotcakes Gallery proprietor Mike Brenner, went off without a hitch. It was removed shortly thereafter. Whole Foods explained “it didn’t fit Whole Foods’ Corporate image.” However, it is a good match for Hotcakes, a gallery at 3379 N. Pierce St. in Riverwest, known for innovative and quality exhibits. Kirk’s solo event, his second at this venue, opens with a reception on Saturday, November 3, and runs through December l. In his artist statement for hotcakesgallery.com, he says he “makes pictures to convey the sense of loss and aimlessness that I feel from growing up in a society that has only one vision, and one place, for what an American Indian is, or should be.” His biography notes he was born in Arizona on a Navajo Indian reservation. But need we feel sentimental about that? Painting a Hat, 1914. Edward Curtis. I’ve seen the paintings and prints of Karl Bodmer and George Catlin, and nostalgic photographs by Edward Curtis, and though they depict American Indians, the makers of the art are non-Indians on what smacks of a sentimental journey. However, the images are gorgeous and are important in the history of art making. In the Milwaukee Art Museum’s Bradley Collection, there used to be (and I hope there still is), a painting (Untitled, 1976) by Fritz Scholder, the first artist to paint American Indians surrounded by flags, beer cans and cats – a big leap from the formal portraits produced by Curtis in the early twentieth century. Scholder’s work intrigued me, not because he was an American Indian, or because his painting depicts an American Indian. What intrigued me was his bold palette and broad painterly strokes, so typical of the unfettered art world of the ’70s. Indian in the Snow, 1972. Fritz Scholder. A few years ago, I saw the paintings of Shonto Begay at the Phoenix Art Museum. His website identifies him as a Navajo artist with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from California College of Arts and Crafts, practicing since 1983. I emailed him about the Hotcakes exhibit and asked for permission to use one of his images. He replied thusly: “I have no problem helping a fellow Navajo showing far from home or anywhere … It is an interesting situation being a Native visual artist, and how we view ourselves. Marginalized and anthro material even in our most creative and free expression. Anyway, Curio or not, we love what we do and hope to continue.” “Curio. Marginalized and anthro material.” Kirk and Begay have never met, but it sounds like they share similar thoughts about “loss and aimlessness.” Kirk’s artist statement expands on this by saying it comes from “growing up in a society that has only one vision, and one place, for […]

The Doo-Wop Box

The Doo-Wop Box

I spent my teen years in Kansas City during the ’50s, and like other suburban girls of my era, gloried in wearing Mamie bangs and pony tails, Poodle skirts and saddle oxfords. A few years ago I bought a pair of those famous black and white shoes with pink rubber soles, copies of the originals which are still being churned out in California. Hey nonny ding-dong. Thank heavens, some things never change. Doo-wop. Do you remember doo-wop, the music of the 50s and 60s, rooted in the urban streets and hearts and souls of black Americans? When The Chords, five black guys, cut “Sh-Boom” in the spring of 1954, I was a senior in high school. My best friend introduced me to the sound, a sound so black that the beat stuck in my head and feet for years. To my lily-white ears it had a dangerous edge that signaled freedom and something other than the privileged “Pleasantville” suburbia of my teen years. It was sexy and sweet and heartbreaking. Filled with tears, moons and stars, it addressed the yearnings of most teenagers, but come to think of it, didn’t actually guarantee any answers to our prayers. In many ways, doo-wop resembled a stone-hearted God that we worshipped on a daily basis. Today I’m sitting in my office writing and listening to The Doo-Wop Box, 101 vocal group tunes compiled in 1993 by Rhino. The four CDs cover the years from 1948 to the doo-wop revival era stretching from 1959-1987. Included is a smart book stuffed with black and white photographs, historical information, and a list of 33 “nonsense” syllables, used to replace traditional instrumentation. Can you identify #17: doo wop, doo wadda, or #31: wah wah, shoop shoop? Along the way, I noticed that many of the vocal groups from the early years were named after birds … The Orioles, The Ravens, The Flamingos, The Wrens, The Penguins. But there were also groups named: The Nutmegs, The Jewels, and The Valentines. These folks did not lack for imagination. In 1956, I floated off to a college dance, in a strapless turquoise tulle gown and huge rhinestone earrings, my hair sheared off in a “Duck’s Ass.” It was a daring haircut, but my date, an uptight dental student intent on fixing tooth decay, never asked me out again, even though we sipped rum and Cokes and danced to “In The Still Of The Nite.” The Five Satins recorded the tune in a basement, and the book in my Doo-Wop Box informs me that despite the hollow sounds, it was one of the two most popular oldies of all times. The other was The Penguins, “Earth Angel.” Their name came from the icon on the Kools cigarettes pack. Earth Angel, earth angel, won’t you be mine? Tonite. Tonite, may never reach an end. Long Lonely Nights by Lee Andrews & The Hearts set my heart on fire. It still does. So, what’s an old lady like me doing listening to doo-wop, […]

Shoot-out at the corner of Superior & Russell

Shoot-out at the corner of Superior & Russell

Artist Jimmy von Milwaukee (JVM) has had his share of ups and downs as a gallerist known for hot times in colorful venues around town, for example his hit-and-run stint as the proprietor of the moveable feasts like Leo Feldman, River Rat Gallery (formerly staged in narrow alleys) and, lest you forget, his annual irreverent Xmas Craft Show. 2007 wasn’t so hot for JVM, who battled AIDS and coped with the death of his dog Spot, who could jump through hoops and often entertained during his master’s wild soirees. Call him a “survivor” – JVM is back at it, this time to curate a River Rat Gallery Night & Day exhibit (Cowboys & Indians), opening October 19 (through January 3/08) at the Palomino, 2491 S. Superior St., in Bay View. Gallery Day can be dull, but if you arrive at 10 a.m. and stick it out, you can rustle some brunch grub. Jimmy Von Milwaukee at the Palomino I’ve known JVM for several decades and early-on wondered about his sanity, and the sanity of the artists he exhibited. Were they eccentrics hankering for publicity, or were they bona-fide artists seeking a place to call their own? In retrospect, I believe they were a bit of each. Despite, or more likely because of his audacious approach to art, JVM managed to charm the late great art critic for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, James Auer, and the media has been feasting on him ever since. He’s 51 now and his edges have softened a bit – but only a bit. Some see him as Milwaukee’s “Andy Warhol.” That may be a stretch, but Warhol was no slouch when it came to cowboys and Indians. Andy Warhol, Double Elvis, 1963 So what can you expect when the exhibit kicks up dust at the Palomino during that most revered of events – Gallery Night & Day? Will it be just another “outsider artist” show, or will it rise above that useless label, a label more or less put to rest when Miracles of the Spirit: Folk, Art, and Stories from Wisconsin, a major book, was published in 2006. One of the artists who received full coverage in Miracles, Bob Watt, will make his Palomino debut with paintings of Indians. There will be an interpretation of Brokeback Mountain and a Warholian salute to Roy Rogers by printmaker Randy James, a hand-crafted “Smallpox Blanket” by Chris Ward, photographs of cattle castration and branding by James Brozek, plus more stuff for your saddlebags: Heather and Jerome Voelske’s cowboy-themed glass items installed on the interior of the north facing bank of windows, Rebecca Tanner’s soft-sculpture Winchester rifles, paintings by Lemonie Fresh, and a sculpture by Matt Fink, known in these parts for his stinging social commentary. JVM has legions of fans and a tendency to exhibit too much work, and the Palomino is already awash with cowboy kitsch, but maybe in this case, more will be more. I’m betting on it. “Cowboy” from a working ranch, Mimbres, New […]